Edgar j



(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

fleuren STATES ATENT FFICE.'

EDGAR J. HILL, OF TROY, PENNSYLVANIA.

REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,263, Vdated April5, 1892. Application filed July 2, 1891. Serial No. 898.237. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known thatI, EDGAR J HILL, of Troy,

I in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania,have'inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Reels, of which the following isaspecication.

in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A B is the fish-` The present inventionrelates to reels for fishing-lines; and it consists in a certain im-.proved construction vof-v reel and of operating mechanism therefor,said reel and operating mechanism being adapted to be entirely inclosedwithin the handle of a fishing-rod or pole, and being constructed toautomatically reel the line.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show adetachable handle for a fishing-rod having the improved reel and itsoperating mechanism arranged therein.

Figure 1 is a face view, partly in section, showing portions of thehandle broken away to disclose the interior parts. Fig. 2 isa View of aportion of the same partly in section. Figs. 3 and 4 are views, on alarger scale, of portions ofthe operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is ahorizontal section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection on the line 6 6 ing-rod handle', and C is a socket (of which buta fragment is shown) at the end thereof for thereception of thefishing-rod. Asshown, the handle is provided with an outer and an innermetallic casing. The inner casing D carries within the reel and all ofits operating mechanism. In practice this casing D is.

preferably cut away 'sufficiently to permit of ready access to the partscarried therein, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Theouter casing is in two sections 'A and B, which closely surround andinclose the inner casing, and are coupled together at o. The socket C iseither secured at the upper end of the inner casing D, asshown, or itmay form a continuation of the upper section B of the outer casing. Theouter casing A B and the socket C are nickeled or otherwise finished soas to give a neat exterior to the handle.

Within the casingD is journaled the reel or winding-spool E, upon whichthe .fishingline e is wound. The end of the fishing-line 4,) extendingacross the casing. The shaft F" is loosely journaled, so that when thefishinglineis pulled through the aperture b the winding-spool willrevolve and the line be delivered therefrom.

In the lower portion of the casing D and beneath the fixed partition dris located suitable gearing G, comprising pinions p p and annulargear-wheels q q, properly securedv within the casing and arranged toform a complete train of gearing, the upper member p of which is locatedjust above the partition d and co-operates with a gear-wheel f, carriedby the shaft F near its lower end, and the lower member of which isacted upon, through shaft s, by the coiled spring H at the bottom of thecasing.l (See Fig. l.) When the wind ing-spool E and its shaft F arerotated by the drawing out of the fishing-.line through aperture b, thegear-wheel f at the end of shaft F acts upon the pinion p', and thusmoves the gearing G and shaft s in a direction to wind up the spring H.Thus the force. expended in drawingthe line o from the reel orwinding-spool serves to wind up the spring H, the

power lthus stored in the spring being subsequently utilized toautomatically reel the line, as hereinafter described.

When the drawing out of the line is suspended,the normal tendency of thespring H would be to at once reverse the gearing G and rotate theshaft Fin the opposite direction, thus rewindng the line upon the spool, andconsequently it is necessary to provide suitable means for controllingthe rot-ation ofthe shaft F, so that the shaft will` n ot be rotated bythe action ofspring I-I until such time as it is desired to rewind theline. Such controlling means for the shaft F are illustrated in Figs. 2and 3 of the drawings and are as follows: The shaft F carries near itsupper'end a circular plate or disk I, which rotates with IOO the shaft,being rigidly secured thereto. Above this plate or disk I is located avertically-movable bearing-disk J, which is normally held in contactwith the plate or disk I by a spring K. A downwardly-projectingcylindrical portion of the upper Wall c of the casing D surrounds theupper end of the shaft Fand serves both as a guide for theverticallymovable bearing-disk J and as acore for spring K. The disk Jmay be provided with upwardly-projecting guide-pins o o, as shown, whichenter pin-holes in the casing-wall c and assistingnidingthebearing-disk. The bearing-disk J by its co-operation withthe circular plate I controls the rotation of shaft F, since the forceof the springl is such that while the shaft is rotated when thefishing-line is drawn from the wiudingspool the shaft will not berotated in the opposite direction (when the drawing out of the line hasceased) by the force of the spring 1I through gearing C. In other words,the friction between the disks I and J is overcome by the force employedin pulling out the line; but that friction is too great to be overcomeby the spring ll acting through the gearing G. Consequently when thefishing-line is pulled out it will remain `unwound, ready for use.\Vhen,ho\vever,it is desired t0 reel the line, it is necessary that thebearing-disk .I should be lifted out of contact with the plate I so asto release the shaft Fsand thus permit the line to beautomaticallyreeled by the action of the spring-actuated gearing G. Forthis purpose the disk J is provided with two or more legs Il, whichextend downwardly just within the casing I) and carry at their lowerends outwardly-proj ecti n g lugs g. The lugs g project through slots hin the casiugs, the said slots being elongated to permit of a verticalmovement of the lugs therein. The lugs g normally occupy a lowerposition in the slots h, owing to the action of spring K upon disk J. ySecured to the lugs g and encircling the outer casing B is au annularband M, which is susceptible of a slight vertical movement permitted andlimited by the play of lugs g in slots h. The ring or band M beingrigidly secured to the lugs g, it is evident that when the ring M ismoved upward the 'legs L will be likewise elevated and the bearing-disk.l raised out of contact with the disk I on shaft F. It will thus appearthat the rotation of the shaft F may be controlled as desired by thesimple manipulation of the exterior ring or band M. As long as the partsare left in their normal position the shaft F and winding-spool E remainpassive. and rotate only as they are moved by the drawing out of theline; but when it is desired to reel the line the ring or band lll ispressed upward, thereby raising the bearing-disk I and releasing theshaft F, which is then rotated, by the spring-actuated gearing G, andthe line is wound upon the winding-spool.

It will he noted that `the construction and arrangement of the gearingfi is such that the winding-spool shaft is rotated at a high rate ofspeed by a comparatively slow rotation of the spring-actuated shaft s.

In order to render the improved reel practicable and satisfactory in itsoperation, it is necessary to employ special means for causing the lineto be evenly Wound upon the winding-spool and for facilitating thewithdrawal of the line through the aperture I). Obviously if no suchspecial means were provided the line could not be properly wound uponthe spool, since When the line was drawn in through aperture b it wouldhave a tendency to Wind only on the portion of the spool directlyopposite the aperture, and thereby the inward passage of the line wouldbe obstructed when only a portion of the line had been reeled. For thisreason the windingspool is arranged to move vertically ou its shaft whenthe line is wound or unwound, so as to bring the various portions of thespool successively opposite to the aperture b. To permit the spool to bethus moved longitudinally on the shaft F and at the same time to rotatewith the shaft, the shaft F is made square or angular (except at 'itsextremities) and passes through correspondingly-shaped slots orapertures in the top and bottom of the spool. In the bottom ofthe spool,beside the central aperture through which the shaft F passes, is locateda stationary nut or threaded sleeve fl', through which passes a slenderrod or shaft N, having a fine screwthread, which engages with theinternal thread of the sleeve t. The threaded shaft N extends upward:from the sleeve Within the hollow Winding-spool E and extends downwardfrom the sleeve to a point a short distance above the lower end of theshaft F. Near its lower end the threaded shaft N carries an annularflange j, which seats against a circular plate 7c, carried by the shaftF,said plate having an aperture for the passage of the end of shaft N.Below the plate 7i; the threaded shaft N terminates in a pinion Z, whichmeshes with a similar pinion m, rigidly carried by a fixed partition n,extending across the casing I). The partition n is located a shortdistance above the partition d, in which the lower end of shaft F isjournaled, said partition n being provided with a centrai aperture(which extends, also, through the stationary gear-wheel or pinion in)for the accommodation of shaft F.

'lhe threaded shaft N and the pinions and m serve to effect thelongitudinal movement of the winding-spool in the following manner: Jhenthe winding-spool E and its shaft F are rotated in either direction, thegearwheel Z at the end of the threaded shaft N is carried around thestationary gear-wheel nl., with which it cooperates, thereby causing`the gear-Wheell and its shaft N toibo rotated. ily the rotation of thethreaded shaft N the sleeve 'i is caused to move longitmlinally thereon,whereby the winding-spool is raised IOS IIO

or lowered, as the case may be. The sliaftN is very finely threaded, sothat the winding or unwinding of the line e gives only a slow andgradual loi'igitudinal movement to the spool, just sulticien't tobringthe various portions of the length of the spool successively opposite tothe aperture b. As the vresult of this longitudinal raisingand loweringof the winding-spool au even aud proper winding of the line thereonisinsured. It will be noticed that the iiangej on the shaft N preventsthe spool from sliding down on its shaft and maintains the pinion Z inengagement with the stationary pinion m.

From the foregoing description the merits and advantages of the presentinvention will be very clearly understood. The reel and all of itsoperating and controlling mechanism are entirely inclosed within thefishing-rod handle, so as to be absolutely protected and out of the way.lVhen the line is to be used, it is simply drawn out through the eye oraperture in the handle. To reel the line it is only necessary to give aslight upward pressure with the thumb and foreiuger to the exterior bandM, whereupon the line is automatically drawn in through the apertureun-l der the inliuence of the spring-actuated gearing, as hereinbeforedescribed; and by reason of the improved feeding mechanism for the spoolthe proper winding and unwinding of the line is satisfactorily insured.

I claim as my inventionv 1. A fishing-rod handle provided with anaperture l), in combination with a reel entirely inclosed within saidhandle, consisting of a winding-spool carried by a rotatable shaft, acoiled spring 1I for effecting the automatic reeling,r of the line onsaid winding-spoohand multiplying gearing intermediate between saidspring and said rotatable shaft, which acts to wind said spring whensaid shaft is rotated in one direction by the unreeling of the line andwhich acts to rotate said shaft in the opposite direction to reel theline when said spring is released, substantially'as'set forth.

2. A winding-spool carried by a rotatable shaft and a plate or disk I,carried by said shaft, in combination with mechanism for automaticallyrotating said shaftin one direction, and a bearing-disk J,independent ofthe winding-spool shaft, which normally bears against said plate ordiskI and prevents the automatic rotation of said shaft, su bstantially asset forth.

3. A reel for fishing-lines, consisting of a winding-spool carried by arotatable shaft, said shaft-carrying a plate or disk I, a line securedto said winding-spool, and mechanism for automatically rotating saidshaft in one direction to reel the line, in combination with a bearing-disk J, which normally bears against said plate or disk I and preventsthe automatic rotation of said shaft, and means for moving said disk Jout of contact with said disk Lnvhereby the automatic reeling of the iamQ nmitrolled, substantially as set forth.

4. In a reel for fishing-lines, a rotatable shaft F, carrying awinding-spool E, mechanism for automatically rotating said shaft in onedirection, a plate or disk I, secured to said shaft E, and abearing-disk J, which normally bears against said plate or disk I andprevents the automatic rotation of said shaft, all of said parts beinginclosed within the handle of a fishing-rod, in combination with meansexterior to said handle for moving said disk J ont of contact with saiddisk I, substantially as set forth.

5. The casing A B, constituting the handle of a fishing-rod, therotatable shaft F, journaled within said casing and carrying thewinding-spool E, mechanism for automatically rotating said shaft in onedirection, a plate or disk I, vsecured to said shaft, and a bearingdiskJ, which normally bears against said plate or disk I. and prevents theautomatic rotation of said shaft, in combination with legs L, secured tosaid disk J, having out` wardly-extending lugs g, and a ring or band M,exterior to and sliding upon said casing A B and secured to said lugs g,whereby said bearing-disk J may be moved out of contact with said plateor disk I, substantially as set forth. y y

G. The rotatable shaft F and the windingspool E, rotating with saidshaft and capable of a longitudinal movement thereon, in coinbinationwith means controlled by the rotation of said shaftfor moving said spoolgradually toward one end of said.v shaft when the shaft is rotated inone direction and toward the other end of said shaft when the shaft isrotated in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

7. The rotatable shaft F, the spool E, rotating with said shaft andcapable of a longitudinal movement thereon, and the threaded sleeve t'on said spool, in combination with the threaded shaft N, extendingthrough and eo-operating with said sleeve i, the pinion Z, rigidlysecured to said shaft N, and the stationary pinion m, with which saidpinion Z meshes, whereby when said shaft is rotated in either directionthe spool E is moved longitudinally thereon continuously in onedirection, substantially as set forth.

S. The fishing-rod handle having the aperture b therein, thewinding-spool E, rotatably mounted within said handle, and the line e,carried by said winding-spool and extending through said aperture l), incombination with IOO mechanism, substantially as described, which,

when said spool is rotated in either direction to wind or unwind theline, operates to move said spool longitudinally and continuously in onedirection, whereby the several portions of the length of said spool aresuccessively brought opposite to said aperture U.

A rotaryshaft F and a spool E, rotating with said shaft and capable of alongitudinal movement thereon, y in combination with a threaded shaft N,workin g in a threaded sleeve 'i on said spool and revolving with saidspool about said shaft F, :L pinion I, rigidly secured to said threadedshaft N, and :t centrally-apertui'ed stationary pinion m, surroundingsaid shaft F and meshing with said pinion l, Where by when said shaft Fis rotated in either direction tile pinion Z and shaft; N are caused torotante, thus moving the spool longitudinally upon its shaft,substantially ns Set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing 1o Witnesses.

EDGAR J; HILL.

Witnesses P. N. BARKER, RAY BALLARD.

